The Sims FreePlay
A freemium mobile life simulation game with real-time gameplay.
The Sims FreePlay is a strategic life simulation game developed by EA Mobile and later with Firemonkeys Studios. It is a freemium version of The Sims for mobile devices, released for iOS on December 15, 2011, and for Android on February 15, 2012. The game also launched for BlackBerry 10 on July 31, 2013, and for Windows Phone 8 on September 12, 2013.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- EA Mobile
- Firemonkeys Studios
- Slingshot Studios
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- Series
- The Sims
- Genre
- Life simulation, Social simulation
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- iOS
- Android
- BlackBerry 10
- Windows Phone
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Players build and design houses and customize up to 34 virtual people called Sims. They control Sims to satisfy wishes and perform actions to earn Simoleons, Lifestyle Points, and Social Points. The game runs in real time, requiring real time to complete actions, and Sims have no autonomy. Players progress through 60 levels to unlock purchasable content. Families can have children if at least one adult Sim exists, with a limit on couples due to town population caps. Buying items from the online store grants VIP status, increasing the Sim limit. Quests include required tasks and optional discovery quests; Sims must bake a cake to age until a quota of discovery quests is met. Three currencies exist: Simoleons, Lifestyle Points, and Social Points, the latter obtainable via real currency or in-game earning. Six life stages differ in appearance and actions; each Sim advances via a birthday cake costing five life points after a day of work.
Updates
As of April 2017, Windows Phones no longer receive game updates. In June 2018, pregnancy and baby showers were added, a feature fans had requested since launch; previously, adult Sims had to marry to add an infant. On October 15, 2018, augmented reality multiplayer was introduced. The autosave function arrived in July 2019. In March 2025, dynamic lighting graphics were implemented, creating realistic sunlight, shadows, and daily lighting changes, though older iOS and Android devices may not support them; minimum recommended devices are iPhone X or Galaxy S20, with iPhone 12 or Galaxy S23 recommended.
Reception
The Sims FreePlay received generally favorable reviews, with a Metacritic score of 80 out of 100. Gamezebo called it a beautiful reimagining of The Sims 3. Nissa Campbell of TouchArcade noted its similarity in spirit to the original 2000 The Sims and its incorporation of MMORPG elements. AppGamer observed that the timing mechanic makes players either love or hate the game. The game was banned in China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Egypt due to the possibility of establishing LGBTQ+ relationships.
More in Sims & Personalities
Elsewhere in The Sims
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced